Ukraine has collected millions of hours of drone footage that is being used to train artificial intelligence (AI). The goal is for these AI models to be able to autonomously make decisions on the battlefield. Both Russia and Ukraine are already actively using AI in the context of war to quickly identify targets, with AI scanning images much faster and more efficiently than a human, News.bg reports.
How AI Trains Battle Models
Alexander Dmitriev, founder of OCHI – a Ukrainian non-profit digital system, explains that their system has collected 2 million hours of frontline video footage shot by more than 15,000 drone crews. This data is essential for training AI, which can identify combat tactics, spot targets and assess the effectiveness of weapons.
"This is AI fodder. If you want to train AI, you give it 2 million hours of video - and it will learn something supernatural," Dmitriev said. This footage is used not only to analyze existing military tactics, but also to discover new ones that could become the basis for algorithms in the future.
Initial goals of the data collection system
Initially created in 2022, the system aims to give military commanders a visualization of the entire front with footage from drones operating near various combat units. Gradually, the team realized the potential of the data and began to store it for future use, which led to the collection of gigantic volumes of data with about five to six terabytes added daily.
Use of AI in demining and autonomous drones
Programs for the use of AI do not stop with military operations. Ukraine also uses AI technologies for demining its territory. Drone swarms are also being developed, where computer systems will manage interconnected clouds of dozens of devices. Such drones, controlled by AI, can perform tasks without human participation, which significantly increases operational efficiency.
AI in action by Russia too
Not only Ukraine, but also Russia advertises the use of AI on the battlefield. Most often, it is used for target recognition using Lancet drones. In both cases, AI technology plays an important role in improving efficiency and reducing decision-making time during combat operations.
Artificial intelligence technologies continue to develop and offer new capabilities for combat operations, allowing for the automated execution of operations that previously required direct human intervention.